Archive for February 2008
Should I tell a joke to start my presentation?
Often people ask me about humour in presentations and how best to use it. Humour can be a powerful tool in public speaking but it is a bit of a double-edged sword. If it doesn’t work, the presenter falls flat on their face and often finds it difficult to recover their credibility. In the past…
Read MoreWhy don’t more presenters use a remote control?
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sat through presentations where the presenter has continually had to walk in front of their projector to access the laptop keyboard and change their slide. Shirts or dresses don’t make good projection screens and it gives the impression of an unprofessional and ill prepared presenter. Another…
Read MoreA new free online mind mapping application
Regular readers of this blog will know that I am a keen mind mapper and recommend this powerful technique as a great way to develop presentation content and even to use as your notes. A little while ago I reviewed freemind, a free open-source application that can be downloaded from the web. Well the other day…
Read MorePerfection is not connection
Today I had the privilege of meeting up with my great friends and inspirational speakers Richard & Liz. We talked about all sorts of things to do with success, self-development and happiness and as ever, I left with a whole load of exciting new ideas and insights. I could write several posts on the outcomes of this…
Read MoreDon’t overdo the animations!
I was presenting recently at a meeting and, as I was fourth on the agenda, I had the opportunity to watch and listen to the presentations of the three preceding speakers. I love to see how others present and how they use, or misuse, PowerPoint. One of the presenters was a lawyer speaking about some complex…
Read MoreUse conscious attention to dissolve your nerves
Even the most experienced managers can be paralysed by nerves. I see it almost every time I run a course and I know that, with the help and support of a good coach and fellow students this fear can be overcome. There are lots of techniques to help including; Deep breathing Visualisation Holding a little saliva in your…
Read MoreHow to be authentic when you speak in public
Why being more authentic leads to speaking success Every time I run a presentation skills workshop I get asked questions like; What is the “right” way to present? Should I use humour? Should I move or stand still? My answer is always the same. “You have to learn how to be authentic.” You see I…
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